Valpoi: The family of Valpoi man, Moin Shaikh (28), who died by suicide on Tuesday, has accused a police sub-inspector of custodial assault and abetment to suicide, and has demanded registration of an FIR and his arrest.
A complaint letter submitted by Sufiyan Mohamad Shaikh to the Valpoi police inspector Videsh Shirodkar on May 1 alleges that police sub-inspector Prathamesh Gawas assaulted Moin while he was in police custody between April 25 and 26.
Moin had been arrested and booked under Section 151 of the CrPC following a complaint filed by the family of a girl, alleged to be his girlfriend, accusing him of assault.
The complaint stated that the family learnt about the alleged custodial assault from a witness who visited the police station on May 1. The complainant stated that the witness is willing to testify regarding the alleged assault. The letter further stated that the alleged custodial violence led to humiliation after news of the incident spread locally, and that this contributed to Moin’s death. The family has accused the officer of being complicit in abetment to suicide.
The complaint also referenced an earlier complaint filed on April 30 against three individuals, stating that the present submission is a supplementary complaint adding allegations against the police officer.
The allegations led to protests outside the police station by family members and relatives demanding action. “We want immediate termination of PSI and also transfer of the PI. Despite orders issued by the department they are not moving from Valpoi. We urge Chief Minister and MLA Vishwajit Rane to intervene in the matter and give justice,” said the protesting family members.
Shirodkar, who had earlier declined to comment, later met the family members and assured them that he would review the CCTV footage. He said he did not have access to it as yet. He also told them that the DySp will be arriving at station in the afternoon on Saturday and that they have received a wireless message from the department transferring Gawas to the reserve line pending further action.
